Supporter of Weerwansa's party shot dead by police in Dankotuwa
2008-10-23 22:26:48

By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinge
A supporter of the Wimal Weerawansa's National Freedom Front (NFF) was shot dead by the police when they opened fire at a vehicle of one of the NFF MPs in the Puttalam district today evening, Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said.

Police said they were prompted to fire at the vehicle of MP Weerakumara Dissanayaka when the police was fired upon, a claim denied by the NFF.

The incident occured at Mohottimulla, Dankoutwa, when Dissanayaka's supporters had an argument with another group and one of them had alerted the police 119 emergency service. When the emergency car had arrived the vehicle of the MP had tried to leave the location, police claimed.

Police said as the vehicle was leaving they were fired upon and in return fire a supporter with the MP was killed, but the MP was unhurt.

But, Mr. Dissanayaka told Timesonline that the rival faction had tried to assault one of his supporters and when the police arrived they wanted to take the supporter to the police. He said he had told the police he was willing to bring the person to police and was putting him to his own vehicle when the police fired.

NFF sources said that the argument had brokenout with a group of supporters of JVP, weerawansa's former party.